PETE MAHON is hoping to have an almost full-strength squad to choose from as St Patrick’s Athletic take on Linfield in the Setanta Cup at Richmond Park (7.35) this evening.

The Dubliners, who kick off their league campaign at home to Galway United next week, have doubts about a handful of players, most of them defenders, but Mahon is hoping that Conor Kenna, Ian Bermingham, Shane Guthrie and Derek Pender all shake off knocks, leaving only the cup-tied Brian Cash on the sidelines.

“It’s a great way to start the season for us,” says Mahon. “I watched them the other night and they’re the best team in the Irish League in my opinion. We want to do well in this competition because it’s important to us but it will also be a good opportunity for us to get an idea of where we are a week before the start of the league.”

The Foras-run Cork City have reached an agreement with the MFA to play their home games at Turner’s Cross for the coming season.

The club’s general manager, Kevin Mullen, described the ground as the country’s best and said that he was delighted that the new club will be “playing at the spiritual home of League of Ireland football in Cork”.

One of the old City’s most prominent players has moved on with former Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United striker Fahrudin Kudozovic (25) signing for Dundalk.

He will compete with the likes of Neale Fenn, Ross Gaynor and Tiarnana Mulvenna in attack while Ian Foster is expected to complete the signing today of Sam Malsom.

League champions Bohemians, meanwhile, formally unveiled their eight close-season signings in Dublin yesterday with highly rated former Derry City trio Stephen Gray, Ruaidhri Higgins and Gareth McGlynn amongst those present as the club also marked a new sponsorship deal with Clarion Hotels.

“I think what we’ve added is real quality to the squad, keeping the bulk of what we wanted from last year and brought the age profile down,” said Pat Fenlon.